Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-08-19
WHOLE NUMBER 1893.

may happen white I am away. don't
know what the plots and plans may be
of the person who has caused me to be
! sent away"
"What do you meane What person,
Laurence? Your mother-your sis
/ ter?"
Laurence looked at me without an.
swering, in the same searching, intent
way as before, for a minute or two;
then he said:
"Listen, Violet. You are such an in
nocent little thing that I don't know
how to tell you what l must
Icould not help looking rather fright
ened at this opening; and he stopped q
little while to comfort me before he
went on:
Last night, when had left you and
got home. found Mr.. Rayner Just
leaving the Hall. Invent straight to
the study to speak to my father. There
is more sympathy between him and
me than between any of the rest of us.
told him plainly of my love for you
and asked him to find some occupa-
ton for me, in an Office, or on u farm,
or somewhere that l might have home
to take you to before the year was out.
And the dear old dad said you had a
sweet face and he should like you for q
daughter. But my mother rules him
with a pretty tight hand, and she wants
me to marry some one with money.
told him / was twenty-four and knew
my own mind and did not care what
she wanted. But he begged me not
to offend her, and then said: She
has just been to tell me some
thing that may have a bearing
on the matter. It seems she has set
her heart on going to the Riviera, and
insists on you going with her. Now,
supposing l stock farm for you while
you are away, you can step into it di-
rectly you come back-and you can
try your hand at farming for year or
two, and keep it warm for Jack, who
wants to take to it, he says. When
you are living away from us. you will
be more your own master. and your
mother will have to submit to your
marrying whom you like. So don't
say word to her, till you come back.
didn't much like this; but l couldn't
say No to my father-he has been so
good to me-and l couldn't refuse to
60 with my mother; nevertheless l was
half mad, all the same, for l know
who had persuaded her to this"
do you? Whoe"
''Mr. Rayner. Haven't you noticed
how he has been steadily getting round
my mother for the last two weeks, till he
rules her as surely as she rules my
father? l wondered what he was do
ing it for; now see."
''But l don't, Laurence. What
should he persuade her to 90 away
for?"
Laurence looked at me earnestly.
ITO get me away"
ITO get you away? Why should he
do thatP" Q
He doesn't like me. Violet, and he
doesn't want me to have you."
''Oh, indeed, you are mistaken, Lau-
renee! He has often praised YOU"
"Yes; that is his cunning. But l tell
you he would stick at nothing to pre-
vent my marrying you," said he ex
citedly. 'He is a bad man"
"Oh, Laurence. You shouldn't say
that! ! know him better than YOU do,
and know that he is goodness and
kindness ITSELF"
"Violet, You are no wiser than
child. How can you see the way he
treats his wife, and yet call him good?"
His wife! All, l know all about
that, butt must not tell you. Indeed
he is not cruel to her, as you think,
Laurence. l know all about it; do,
indeed"
"Well, then. since I must say it,
what do you think of the way he treats
you? Doesn't he show he cares for YOU
more than for her? Can't you see that
he is making love to you?'
Laurence" cried l. aghast "How
dare you say such thing? What have
| done that you should think so i'll of
me as to think would let a man who
is married make love to me? How,
could you tell me you loved me, think
ing that? l will never speak to you
again."
l turned sharply from him, and was
back in the field among the people be-
fore he could stop me. Tea was being
given TO the children, and / went to
help; hut the enjoyment of the day was
gone. In dazcd state I was still
handing about cake. too miserable and
excited to know quite what was do
ing. when Lady Mills and Mr.. and Mrs.
Rayner came up to me. This lady had
taken q fancy to me, and had begged
Mr.. and Mrs. Rayner to let me 70
Dut Just outside the hall door met
Laurence, with rose in his hand.
''Violet. Violet, don't 20 without q
word to me! Here-throw away that
rose and wear mine"
II will wear yours" said /; ''but
can't throw away this one till it Is dead.
That would be ungrateful.
"Did Mr.. Rayner give it your"
Yes"
He snatched out of my hand the rose
had Just taken from him, and flung il
away.
Il beg your pardon, Miss Christie.
for my presumption in thinking you
would accept mine after his. Good.
evening""
He strobe of toward the plantation
path, and he would not turn round
when l called Laurence, Laurencer'
could not stay to run after him, even
if had been able to overtake him; 50,
with tears in my eyes. l plunged into
the flower bed where his rose had fall.
en- and picked it up, and put Mr.. Ray.
ner's gently on the ground instead. 1t
was an ungrateful thing to do; but
must do what Laurence wished, even
if he did not know it.
And SO with very heavy heart ran
mn tho nofh trs tho 20 rvi q oo and Of q ~ al
on visit which was to be strangely
eventful to me.
To be continued.